In Akita Prefecture, Japan

昭和55年(1980)1月 White-naped Crane visiting to Akita Pref. 53

短報Short Notes

A White-naped Crane newly visiting to Hachirogata in Akita Prefecture, Japan

Ko Ogasawara, K.1) and T. Nishide2)

It is well known that large number (over 1000 birds in 1975) of the White- naped Crane (Grus vipio Pallas) have visited to the Arasaki, Kagoshima Prefecture (Bunka-cho 1977), and a small number of the above species to the Yashiro, Yama- guchi Prefecture, Japan. Moreover, we have the records that a few individuals of the above Crane appeared temporarily in the several places; in Hokkaido (1871 Chitose), Honshu and Kyushu. But we have never seen the above Crane in any places of the Tohoku District (Ornith. Soci. Jap. 1974, Kiyoshu 1978, Yamashina 1978). In the Arasaki, the many wintering White-naped Cranes have fed their foods in the rice paddies and wetlands etc. from the middle October to the early March. All of the Crane have left from the Arasaki to the Continent at the early March (Kiyoshu 1978). We have fortunately a chance to observe a White-naped Crane in the Hachi- rogata, Akita Prefecture, northern Tohoku District, during the period from 11th to 24th March 1978 (Fig. 1). This visiting of the above Crane will be first record in the Tohoku District of Japan (Ornith. Soci. Jap. 1974, Kiyoshu 1978). We could have an oppotunity to record a part of the life of this important bird only during the present staying. A White-naped Crane has rested standing on the ice of the western catch canal of the Hachirogata at the 11th March 1978 (Fig. 1 and Photo 1). In the middle of March, snow and ice on the water have gradually melt, and water surface has been opening in the large part.

1. Dept. Biol., Faculty of Education, Akita University, Tegata, Gakuencho, Akita City 010 (Coresearcher, Yamashina Inst. of Ornith.) 2. Nakajima, Soto-Oka, Yamamoto-machi,Yamamoto-gun, Akita Preb.

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Photo 1. Showing a White-naped Crane and Whistling Swans in the north-western Catch Canal of the Hachirogata on the 12th March 1978.

In this season, many waterfowls are gradually gathering in this place, especi- ally Swans (Cygnus cygnus and Cygnus columbianus) are most abundant by the pre- spring migration. A White-naped Crane rested on the ice with some Swans in the point A showing in Fig. 1. The above Crane was observed in the points A to B in Fig. 1 during 16th to 18th March, and sometimes came back to the point A in Fig. 1. Moreover, the above Crane moved to the points D and E on the 18th, and staved there to 22nd March (Fig. 1). It is very interesting that a White-naped Crane has fed it's foods mainly in the rice paddies of the Hachirogata reclimed land with large number of Swans (Photo 2). Thus, the above Crane has been seen frequently to be with Swan's flock in the Hachirogata. The above Crane disappeared at last from the Hachirogata at the 24th March. In this season, all of the White-naped Cranes had already left from the Arasaki, Kagoshima Prefecture. However, it is not clear whether does a White-naped Crane visit to the Ha-

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Photo 2 A feeding Crane and Whistling Swans in the rice paddies of the Hachirogata reclimed land at the 18th March 1978. chirogata wintering the Tohoku District, or does the above Crane come from the Arasaki to the Hachirogata, parting from its flock when they move in the spring departure to the Continent. In any way, the Hachirogata is very important place as the migration course of the swans and geese (Yokota et al. 1976), and where a White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) visit there at the 12nd May 1975 (Ogasawara et al. 1977).

Remarks

We have a chance to observe a White-naped Crane in the Hachirogata, Akita Prefecture, northern Tohoku District, during the period from 11th to 24th March 1978. This visiting of the above Crane will be first record in the Tohoku District of Japan. An above Crane has rested standing on the ice of the western catch canal of the Hachirogata at the 11th March 1978. It is very interesting that a White-naped Crane has fed its foods mainly in

(56) 昭和55年(1980)1月 White-naped Crane visiting to Akita pref. 57 the rice paddies of the Hachirogata reclimed land with large number of swans.

Literatures Cited Bunka-Cho 1977. Special Natural Monument, Cranes and thier visiting place of Kagoshima Pre- fecture. Report of the special research (in Japanese). Kiyoshu, Y. 1978. The birds of Japan, Kodan-sha, Tokyo. (in Japanese). Ogasawara, K. and Y. Izumi 1977. Japanese White Storks Ciconia ciconia boyciana appeared in northern Honshu and Hokkaido, Misc. Rep. Yamashina. Inst. Ornith. 9 (48): 121-127. (in Japanese with English summary). Ornithological Soci. Jap. 1974. Check-list of the Japanese birds, Gakken, Tokyo. Yamashina, Y. 1978. Current status of Grus japonensis, G. vipo and G. monacha in the Asian Continent; Misc. Rep. Yamashina. Inst. Ornith. 10 (51, 52): 43-57 (in Japanese with English summary) Yokota, Y. et al. 1976. The migration course of geese wintering at Lake Izunuma, (2): origin of the flocks in Ishikari Plain, Hokkaido. Misc. Rep. Yamashina. Inst. Ornith. 8 (45): 38-52 (in Japanese with English summary).

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